How to build an effective “slow burn” SMS Marketing campaign

by | Nov 7, 2014 |

A real SMS Marketing campaign takes time. Send too many messages – people get annoyed. Send too few – your campaign has no effect. What you need is to build a “slow burning” campaign that is sustainable over a period of time. How do you do that? Automate your messages Have an automated release of messages for every action (clicks, sign ups) the customer takes. For instance: If he signs up for your newsletter, send him a thank you SMS. The idea is to make a series of messages that are applicable to the customer’s situation and will encourage continued engagement. Just remember not to overdo it – you don’t want your SMS Marketing messages to become spam. Pick your cues carefully. Know what you want from your customers What do you want your customers to do when they receive your message? Make sure that the action they have to take is logical and clear. For example: If you want them to visit your website, provide a link. When they arrive there, give them further instructions on what to do. If you confuse customer s or they don’t understand what to do immediately, they will simply drop off. Give them value What is in it for the customer? Every single SMS Marketing message should contain something of value. E.g. exclusive offers, links to relevant articles, exciting announcements etc. Don’t sound like a robot Even though you automate the sending of your messages or pre-write your content, just make sure it doesn’t sound automated. A customer wants to know that she is valued and appreciated and not “just another customer.”...

Which is better: Email or SMS Marketing?

by | Sep 3, 2014 |

Email and SMS Marketing are both very effective marketing tools. But what if you don’t have the time or resources to use both? Which one is better? The answer is simple: SMS. Why? Texts are read, email not really: It is estimated that only 22% of emails sent are opened while SMS knocks it out of the park with 98%. There are many reasons for this, but the main problem people have with email is spam. Mobile receives better click through rates: Believe it or not, mobile users are more likely to click on a link. Email produces an average click through rate of 4.2% while SMS Marketing can produce 19%. Mobile users outnumber email users: The stats on exactly how much more mobile users there are in comparison to active email account holders differ from article to article. The latest report (from the Radicati Group) says that there are 6 billion active mobile users worldwide and only 3.6 billion email accounts. SMS is more accessible: People go nowhere without their phone – unlike a laptop or computer. But even if they receive emails on their phone, it is still much more hassle to read an email than a text. An SMS usually takes one click to open, while an email might require you to log into your account first. SMS is timelier: Did you know? It is estimated that 63% of customers use their phone at some point while they are out shopping. In other words, you can send a text to a customer while they are in your shop to alert them to your promotions. If you...

How to ensure your SMS messages are read

by | Aug 27, 2014 |

Marketing SMS messages are more likely to be received and acted upon than emails and faxes. But, it is not immune to consumer rejection. How can you make sure your customers read your text instead of deleting it right away? Don’t send big files. Graphics and pictures that take too long to download or open, will only frustrate your customers. Don’t waste space. The less effort a recipient has to put in to receive and read your messages, the better. Give your customers a reason to look forward to your promotional messages. You have to give something to get something, and the easiest way to do it, is to give away freebies like mobile vouchers, airtime, discounts or prizes. You don’t have to give something away in every single message, but do it on a regular basis. Keep your SMS messages “single”. As soon as a text goes past 160 characters, it will be delivered in multiple parts. If one of those parts get delayed or aren’t delivered at all, your content will be less than effective. Don’t spam your customers. Going cuckoo for coco pops with your texting is a sure way to elicit a negative response. Don’t go overboard. Rather conduct a survey to find out how many times a week your customers want to hear from you and at what time of the day do they prefer to receive your communication. Keep it professional. Marketers are often swayed in the wrong direction when it comes to constructing texts because it is such an informal medium. Don’t use SMS lingo – it is not to say your...

How the automobile industry can use SMS Marketing

by | Aug 22, 2014 |

If you are in the automobile industry (selling, trading, repairing) you should get behind the wheel of SMS Marketing and take it for a spin. We will tell you why. Direct Marketing Why would I want to use mobile messages to market my products or services? Because: It is highly affordable: buying SMS in bulk will save you even more! More targeted than email messages: it is virtually guaranteed that your message will be opened within a few seconds after receipt. Can be adapted in the blink of an eye to achieve different outcomes: use it for small or big campaigns You can use SMS Marketing to: Inform your customers about specials on vehicle parts or servicing Remind your customers to have their vehicles checked before each school holiday Ask customers to text the details of their vehicles so you can do a quick check of the vehicle’s book value, then text the answer back with an invite to do a trade-in. Create excitement and action by offering exclusive deals and discounts every time you have to get rid of old stock. With SMS Marketing, you don’t have to spend much to generate revenue. Use it in conjunction with other marketing channels to give your marketing efforts a powerful boost. Customer Service Use text messages to: Remind customers of appointments Inform them that their vehicle is ready for pick-up Remind them when their vehicle’s service is due Inform them when parts arrived Wish them a happy birthday and happy holidays Congratulate them on their purchase Congratulate them on the anniversary of their purchase Share tips on how to care...

How to use SMS Marketing for retail shops and schools

by | Aug 6, 2014 |

SMS Marketing offers endless options to any establishment willing to give it a try. Retail shops have been going at it for a while now, but even schools can use it for communication purposes! What can mobile messaging do for you? Retail Shops One of the biggest things that marketers in the retail industry have to deal with is the fact that products are often seasonal. For example: clothing shops have to get rid of their summer clothes before winter and vice versa. This lends a sense of urgency to their marketing efforts, and what better way to communicate urgency than via text messages. Thus, SMS Marketing is ideal for exclusive offers. For example: “Hurry! 20% off today only!” “Pay your account installment today and receive 5% off your next purchase.” But that’s’ not all. You can also use it to: Incentivize customers: mobile vouchers and coupons are much better than old paper based rewards. Customers always have their phones with them, so if they decide to suddenly pop into your store after work, they can do it without worrying about a coupon lying forgotten at home. Send reminders: “we are open every day until 17h00.” “Have a question about your account? Contact our customer care at …” Schools SMS Marketing isn’t always about hardcore selling. In fact, it is equally useful for plain old communication. Instead of calling parents, children and teachers to remind or inform them about an event, simply text them! It is much, much cheaper and less time consuming, because you can send a default message out in bulk. What can you use it for?...